BHS to stage ‘Alice in Wonderland’

A group of Baldwin High School students will be assisting Alice to find her way home this weekend.

On Friday and Saturday nights, the students will be performing in the annual BHS spring play. This year's play is "Alice in Wonderland" and each show begins at 7 p.m. in the Baldwin Junior High School auditorium.

"It's a family show for all ages," said Michelle Kirk, BHS English teacher and play director. "It's rated G, so in that way it's like Disney. I think everybody of all ages will find something to enjoy."

Unlike most BHS performances, this one isn't a musical. Nor is it similar to the movie made famous by Disney productions. Despite those facts, Kirk is confident the audience will enjoy the show.

"It's not a musical and it's not the Disney animated version," she said. "It's also not the same as the television movies that have been released. It's got a lot of the same characters, but it's an adaptation that is a stage version. She (Alice) doesn't shrink or grow; she is just trying to find her way home."

Starring in the play is junior Maddy Roger as Alice. Although she has been involved in many performances in her life, this one might be her most challenging one yet.

"I'm definitely excited about it, but I'm also kind of nervous," Roger said. "I've been in several plays before, but I've never been in every single scene of a play before. It's a pretty big part.

"I like the idea of a challenge, so this seemed like something I wanted to try," she said. "It's been pretty tough to learn all of the lines, but if you do it a section at a time, it works out fine."

Even the director of the play is aware of how much work Roger is having to do for this particular show, but she is also confident in her star.

"She has got a lot on her shoulders and she is already a busy person," Kirk said of Roger. "She's got a really full month of April. She has been pretty stretched between all of the things she is involved with, but she is a talented young lady."

Instead of the usual musical, Kirk wanted to choose a show that would display the talent of the BHS students involved. She hopes this show will do just that this weekend.

"I wanted something that would be playful and something that we could be creative with," Kirk said. "We also wanted something that would allow our students to display their talents. We have lot of talented kids and this gives them quite a range to play."

Tickets for the play are $5 and can be purchased at the door before the show each night. Each show begins at 7 p.m. at the BJHS auditorium.

"So far it's coming together well, but it's not quite polished yet," Roger said. "It will be interesting to see how it turns out."